Internet from space
Starlink is now also broadcasting in Antarctica: Meanwhile, Russia classifies satellites as targets
Two men watch as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center from Canaveral National Seashore. The rocket carries 49 Starlink internet satellites for a broadband network.
© Paul Hennessy / DPA
Starlink boss Elon Musk recently announced that his Internet satellites are now also providing reception in Antarctica. For Russia, however, satellites are increasingly becoming a threat.
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet literally spans the world. His company SpaceX has managed to establish contact with ground stations on all continents. A few days ago, the McMurdo research station in Antarctica reported that fast internet was finally available. who himself on the world map If you look at where this station is located, you will see that top network coverage should not actually be expected there.
Starlink jeopardizes censorship
While people in remote areas around the world are happy to finally be able to surf the Internet at reasonable speeds, the nodes that are independent of traditional infrastructure are beginning to pose a serious threat to others.
Since Starlink is a private Internet service from the USA and ground stations are not connected to public networks, Musk’s Internet also allows unrestricted access where governments actually attach great importance to close control of the accessible content.
This becomes particularly clear when, in situations like the war in Ukraine, the Russian invaders try to destroy the public infrastructure and route the Internet of an entire country through their own censorship networks on the one hand, and Ukrainian soldiers and civilians continue to use Starlink on the other remain independent and able to communicate freely.
+++ Also read: Starlink as a strategic tool: How Elon Musk’s satellites help attack Russian tanks +++
Russia: “A legitimate target for retaliation”
It is therefore not surprising that the Russian government is also thinking aloud about ways and means of eliminating this supposed danger. At a meeting of the United Nations (UNODA), which dealt with the reduction of dangers from space, the Russian delegation published a statements. Among other things, it says: “Quasi-civilian infrastructures can become a legitimate target for retaliatory measures.”
Journalist Shashank Joshi estimates via Twitterthat of course Russia must have meant Starlink. Other users agree with the thesis.
Company founder himself Elon Musk recently reportedthat Russia is actively trying to shut down his company’s satellites. Meanwhile, the UNODA statement continues: “The actions of Western countries unnecessarily endanger the sustainability of peaceful space activities as well as numerous social and economic processes on Earth that affect the well-being of people, especially in developing countries.”
Starlink is never explicitly mentioned, but Russia no doubt refers to it indirectly. It says: “We would like to draw attention to an extremely dangerous trend that goes beyond the harmless use of space technologies and is illustrated by the events in Ukraine. What is meant is the use of elements of civil, including commercial infrastructure in space by the United States and their allies for military purposes.”
China is also working on defense methods
The Russian government is not alone in this opinion. Chinese researchers are also working on defense methods that are intended to switch off an independent satellite internet in an emergency. An Internet like Starlink, according to a report by the “China Morning Post“poses a threat to China’s sovereignty and national security.
When it comes to using the networks for military purposes, governments are not wrong. As early as February, the US Army began testing how Starlink could be used by soldiers. As “political” Last reported in August, the American Air Force recently decided to sign a contract with SpaceX.